Apparatus for closing and sealing receptacles



Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,499

E. L. JONES APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND SEALING RECEPTACLES Filed Oct. 19, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Get. 23, 1928. 1,688,499

. E. L. JONES APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND SEALING RECEPTACLES Filed 0013.19, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y III-m INVENTOR ATT NEY Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,499

E. L. JONES APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND SEALING RECEPTACLES Filed Oct. 19, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR [/1131 W'kbl "EY f Patented ct. 23, 1%28.

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ELLIS L. JQNES, F LQNG: ISLAND GI'IY, NEW YORlK, ASSIGNOR T0 SEALED CON- EMA-TEES CORPGRATION', OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS F03 CLOSING AND SEALING: REGEPTACLES.

Application filed October 19, 1927. Serial No. 221L162.

This invention relates to apparatus for closing and sealing the end of a receptacle or container made of pliable material, such as paper paraflined, and preferably of truncated conical shape having a closure in the larger end and especially intended for the dispensing of milk or otherliquid, the open end of the receptacle being adapted to be closed by collapsing or pinchingtogether the smaller end of the receptacle and then securing and sealing the end in collapsed condition by a clamping strip, and it is the object of the inven tion to provide improved apparatus, particularly adapted for manual operation, to collapse the open end of the receptacle and then secure and. seal a member applied to the collasped end, and to an improved manner of firmly securing and positively sealing said member tothe collapsed receptacle end to prevent leakage of the contents of the receptacle should the same be inverted.

In carrying out the inventionthere is provideda standard carrying a receptacle support to have axial movement in a vertical di-' rection and held against rotative movement, said support having means to gauge the position of the receptacle thereon, and said standard also carrying clamping jaws in vertical spaced relation to the receptacle support, one of said jaws being fixed and the other having movement relative to the fixed jaw in a direc' tion transverse to the movement of the re" reeptacle support. A. pair of receptacle collapsing levers are movably mounted upon opposite sides of the receptacle support to have movement in a directiontoward a receptacle on the support to eollapse the same away from each other to releasea receptacle from be tween the levers and permit of removal of the receptacle from the support. Means are provided to impart axial movement to the receptacle support to'pos-ition the collapsed end of a receptacle with a securing and sealing member thereon, comprising a strip of pliable metal bent to inverted V shape in cross section, between the clamping jaws, said means being operative durlng the initial moyement thereof to actuate the receptacle collapsing levers to move and retain said levers in receptacle collapsing position. Means are pro- .vided to actuate the clamping aws for the collapsed receptacle end when the securing and sealing member thereon has been positioned between said jaws. One of the jaws is arranged with a longitudinal recess and the other with a rib alined with said recess whereby as the aws are brought together to clamp the securing and sealing member to the collasped receptacle end it is arranged with a longitudinally fiuted portion, said fluted por tion not only reinforclng and adding rigidity to the member but draws the portion of the strip at the fold into firm and intimate engagement with the edge of the collapsed receptacle end.

To further assure the sealing of the securing strip to the receptacle portions of the strip at one side of the receptacle with the interposed material of the receptacle are offset into portions of the strip atthe opposite sides of the receptacle.

In the drawings accompanying and forming apart of this application Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of apparatus embodying the invention showing the parts in normal position with a receptacle, shown in dot and dash line, on the receptacle support.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle support.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a receptacle collapsing lever.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 on a'reduced scale and certain of the parts removed, and showing the receptacle collapsing levers in. receptacle collapsing position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 and showing the receptacle support adjusted to position with the collasped receptacle end and a sealing member applied thereto between the clamping jaws.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus shown in Figures 4 and 5, and showing the one clam ing jaw as having been actuated to clamp t e securing and sealing member to the collapsed receptacle end between the jaws.

Figure 7 is a-pla-n view of the apparatus with portions broken away so that the parts below the same may be seen.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the clamping jaws, one of the jaws being broken awa and in section toshow the mounting of o setting punches therein. I

Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of' means for connecting the operating means to the'reeeptacle collapsing levers and receptacle support.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the securing and sealing member for the collapsed receptacle end.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the collapsed end of the receptacle showing a securing and sealing member applied thereto preparatory to positioning the same between the clamping jaws and vertical bore therethrough for the slidable engagement of a stem 18 of a receptacle support 19 in the form of a disk having a ledge 20 extending upward from the periphery for substantially one-half of the circumference and at one side'to serve as a gauge for positioning a receptacle R thereon, shown in,dot and dash lines. To prevent rotative movement of the receptacle support a pin 21 is extended transversely therethrough with the projecting ends extended through opposite slots 22 in the wall of the tubular portion 17..

v Two pairs of perforated lugs 23 extend laterally and upwardly from the opposite sides of the support for the pivotal mounting of a pair of receptacle collapsing levers 24 to be I arranged at the front and rear of the support. One arm of each lever is elongated and extends upwardly to engage at opposite sides of the receptacle on the support-with the free ends ofi'set inwardly and extended laterally, as shown at 25.

The upper projection 15 carries a pair ofclamping jaws 26, 27, the jaw 27 being secured in a transverse recess of the projection by screws 28, while the jaw 26 is secured by screws 29 in a transverse recess in a head 30 in opposed relation to the jaw 27, said head being fixed to the forward end of a slide in the form of apair of rods 31 slidably mounted in the standard projection 16 and the rear ends of the rods having a connector 32 secured thereon. (Figure 7). Plates 33 are secured tothe op osite ends of the jaw 27 to extend forward y and downwardly there from to serve as guides to position the collapsed end of a receptacle between the jaws. Means are provided'to actuate the receptacle collapsing levers to move them toward each other to'collapse a receptacle on the receptacle support and away from each other to release the collapsed receptacle and in timed sequence therewith actuate the receptacle support to position the receptacle end between the clamping jaws and from between said aws. This means comprises a collar 33 (Figure 9) having opposite laterally elongated reeaeee recesses 34 for the engagement of the ends of the pin 21 extended transversely through the support carrying stem, said collar having bifurcated portions 35 extending laterally therefrom at right angles to the recesses 34 and in which bifurcation one end of links 36 are pivotally supported, the opposite ends of which links are pivotally connected with the other arms of the levers 24, as at 37-. The collar also has a. pair of perforated lugs 38 extending downwardly in alined relation with the recesses 34 for the connection of the collar with one arm 39'of a rocker by means of an interposed link member 40, one end of which link member is pivotally supported in a bifurcation 41 atthe end of the rocker arm, and the opposite end having an elongated sleeve portion whereby it is pivotally supported between the collar lugs 38. By this arrangement of link connect-ion of the collar with the rocker lateral distorting movement of the collar is prevented. The rocker is pivotally mounted at 42 on alug 43 extending downwardly from the base B of the standard andis actuated by a pair of cams 44, 45 arranged on a disk fixed to and movable with a manually operative lever 46 and also pivotally mounted on the lug 43 and co-operating with cam faces 47, 48 arranged on an arm 49 of the rocker extending oppositely to the arm 39. V In the operation of the apparatus a receptacle B; is engaged upon the receptacle sup port 19 from the side when viewed from the front of the standard and positioned on the 100 support by the gauge ledge 20 when the lever is pulled downward. During the initial movement of the lever the cam 44 is brought into engagementrwith the cam face 47 on the rocker arm 49 imparting a lost motion to 105 the collar 33, that is, without imparting movement to the receptacle support. This movement of the collar rocks the collapsing levers moving them into engagement with and collapsing the receptacle end, as shown no in Figure 4. By the continued movement of the lever the cam is brought into engagement with the cam face 48 on the rocker arm 49 thereby moving the receptacle support to position the collapsed receptacleend between the n clamping jaws, as shown in Figurefi, through the collar 33 and its connection with the receptacle support through the links 36 connected with the collapsing levers, this force also applying-a pressure to the collapsing levers to 1120 I maintain the receptacle infirm collapsed condition. The engagement of the collapsed receptacle end with the scaling member thereon be tween the clamping jaws is limited by the inwardly extending portions 25 of the collapsing levers engaging with the guiding and positioning members 33 connected to the ends of the clamp 27. In the interim of collapsing the receptacle and positioning it between the clamping jaws the securing and sealing inem- 1,ees,4ee i toward the clamping jaw 27 to clamp the see curingand sealing strip to the receptacle end. Thismovement is imparted to the jaw carrying head 30 by a manually operative lever 51 pivotally mounted at 52 on the standard and havinga counterweight adj ust- ,ably mounted on an arm extending oppositely to the lever, as at 53. i The operating lever has a toggle link connection with the jaw head carrying rods 31 comprising a link 54 pivotally mounted at one end in a recess in the standard rojection 15, as at 55, and a link 56'pivota 1 connected atone end to the rod connecting head 32, as at 57, the opposite vend of the link engaging in a bifurcation 58 of the link 54 and mounted with the bifurcated end of the link '54 upon a: pin 59 with the connectin pin 59 connected with the operating lever y a pair of links 60 hung on the ends of a pin 61 extended transversely through the operating lever and engaged upon the ends of the pin 59 thereby connecting the links 54, 56.

a downward movement of the operatin ever 51 the links 54,

56 will be straightene out but as the one end,

of the link 54 is mounted at 55 in fixed-position in the standard and the one end of the link 56 is connected at 57 with the rod connccting head 82 said straightening of the links will impart movement to the jaw carrying head 30 towurdthe jaw 27. To limit and gauge the movement of the clamp jaw 26 relative to the clamp jaw 2-7 the movement of the toggle'links 54, 55 is controlledby an adjustable abutment in the form ot a screw 62 threaded into a rib 63 extending transversely of and below a recess 64 in the stand ard projection 15, and in which recess the,

toggle mechanism is arranged to operate.

When the lever 51 is released the counterweight operates to return the jaw carrying head 30 to the Figure 1 position. The cam 45 of lever 46 and cam face '48 of rocker arm 49 are arranged so that the engagement of said parts will retain the receptacle support ing parts in the Figure 5 position, and when the clamping jaws are released the lever 46 is 'manually operated to release the rocker carrying the receptacle supporting parts connected then to and permitting the parts to retnrn'to initial position by the weight thereot.

The face of the clamping jaw 26 is arranged with a projecting rib 65 of V shape in cross section extending longitudinally and intermediate the top and bottom of the clamp jaw, and the clamp jaw 27 is arrangedwith a longitudinal recess 66 of circulation shape in cross section and of a width and depth to the strip onto the end of the'receptacle so that the connecting portion of the sealing member is brought into firm and intimate engagement with the edge of the end of the receptacle, this close engagement-of the sealing member with the edge of the receptacle I end being facilitated by the bending or the stri on a small radius. To prevent longitudlnal displacement of the sealing member on the receptacle and also assuring aiurther sealing of said member to the receptacle portions of the sealing member at one side of the receptacle are offset into the interposed mate rial of the receptacle and the opposite side of t e strip, as shown at 67 in Figure 13. This is e 'ecte by prick punches 68 mounted in and projecting fromthe face of the clamp aw 27 and being in line with recesses 69 inthe face of the clamp jaw 26; These punches and recesses are preferably arranged in the clamp jaws between. the tops thereof andthe rib 65 and recess 66. The clamping jaw 27 is arranged with a transverse recess or under-' cut portlon 70 to compensate for the side sealing means to-secure the blank at the longitudinal marginal edge portions of the blank in forming the receptacle body and thus assure an intimate engagement of securing and sealing member withthe collapsed receptacle end.

It will be obvious that various modifications may be made in construction and ar rangement of parts, and that portions of the invention may be used without others and come within the scope of the invention.

l laving thus described my invention I clauns:

1. In apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle ofpliable material, an axially movable receptacle support, clamping jaws arranged in opposed and spaced relation'to the receptacle support and having movement one relative to the other in a direction transverse to the movement of the support, means carried by the receptacle support to have movement toward and away from a receptacle on the support to collapse the open end thereof, and means operative to collapsed end of a receptacle on the support between the clamping jaws.

2. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means to collapse the open end of the receptacle comprises a pair of levers pivotally mounted. on opposite sides of the receptacle support and extending upwardly therefrom with the free ends arranged with inwardly offset and laterally extending jaws for engagement with and collapsing of the receptacle.

3. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle support embodies a disk arranged with a stem whereby it is mounted in the bore of. a lateral projection. of

the frameworkand the disk stem having a pin extending transversely therethrough with the ends projected through opposite slots in the wallof the bore of the disk stem support: ingaprojection.

4:. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle support embodies a disk arranged with a stem whereby it is mounted in the bore of a lateral projection of the framework and the disk stem having a pin extending transversely therethrough with the ends projected through opposite slots in the wall of the bore of the disk stem supporting projection and alever actuated rocker arm having a connection with the pin extended transversely through the disk stem.

5. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle support embodies a disk arranged with means for mounting the same in the framework of the apparatus to have axial movement and held against rotative movement, and a lever having connection with the disk to impart axial movement thereto.

6. In apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle of pliable material a standard having laterally extended and.

vertically spaced projections, a receptacle support mounted in the lower standard projection to have movement toward and away from the upper projection, clamping jaws mounted in the upper projection one to have movement relative to the other transversely -of the movement of the receptacle support,

levers pivotally mounted at opposite sides of the receptacle support and between which levers a receptacle isadapted to be engaged upon the support, one arm of the levers being extended upward and said arms adapted to have movement toward and away from each.

other to collapse the open end of a receptacle on the support, means to actuate the levers to a impart receptacle collapsing movement thereto and in'said position of the levers move the support to position the collapsed receptacle and between the jaws, and. means to actuate menace the clamping jaws to secure a sealing member applied to the collapsed receptacle end.

7. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the receptacle support embodies a disk portion arranged with a gauge for positioning receptacle thereon and having oppositely extending perforated ears by which the receptacle collapsing levers are supported.

8. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means to actuate the receptacle collapsing levers and receptacle support comprises a lever actuated rocker arm, and a collar connected with the rocker arm, the receptacle collapsing levers and the receptacle support.

9. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means to actuate the receptacle collapsing levers and receptacle support com prises a collar having a lost motion connection with the receptacle support, link connections between said collar and receptacle collapsing levers, and a lever actuated rockor arm operatively connected with the collar in line with the axis of the receptacle support.

10. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means to actuate the receptacle 6, wherein one of the clamping jaws is fixed to the upper standard projection and the other clamping jaw is carried by a head fixed on a slide mounted in said standard projection.

12. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein one of the clamping aws is fixed to the upper standard projection and the other clamping jaw is carried by a slide mounted in said standard projection, and gauge members at the ends of the clamping jaws to guide and position the collapsed receptacle end between the jaws.

I 13. Apparatus for closing and sealing the .open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein one of the clamping jaws is fixed to the upper standard projection and the .otherclamping jaw is carried by a slide mounted in said standard projection, and a lever pivotally mounted upon the standard and having an operative connection wlth the jaw carrying slide tomove the jaw carried thereby in predetermined position toward and away from the fixed jaw.

14. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein one of the clamping jaws is fixed to the upper standard projection and the other clamping jaw is carried by a slide mounted in said standard projection, a lever pivoted on the standard, and a toggle link connection between the lever and jaw carrying slide.

15. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the one clamping jaw is arranged with a longitudinal recess and the other aw is arranged with a longitudinal rib operative to longitudinally flute the sealing member as it is clamped to the collapsed receptacle end.

16. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the one clampingfjaw is arranged with a longitudinal recess and the other jaw is arranged with a longitudinal rib operative to longitudinally flute the sealing member as it is clamped to the collapsed receptacle end, punches mounted in one jaw to project from the face thereof, and recesses in the face of the other jaw in line with said punches.

17. Apparatus for closing and sealing the open end or a receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the one clamping jaw is arranged with a longitudinal recess and the other jaw is arranged with a longitudinal rib operative to longitudinally flute the sealing member as it is clamped to the collapsed receptacle end,

punches mounted in one jaw to project from the face thereof, and lrecesses in the face of the other jaw in line with said punches, said punches and recesses being arranged in the clamping jaws above the longitudinal recess and rib.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,

this 6th day of Oct, 1927. p

, ELLIS L. JONES. 

